The role of basal ganglia dopamine in vocal learning

描述（由申请人提供）：运动技能学习和其他目标导向的行为包括确定目标和练习。在实践中，神经回路评估感觉反馈并引导运动控制回路的自适应变化。这种行为的一个重要例子是少数物种表现出来的，包括人类，他们学会了对交流至关重要的发声。鸣禽的发声学习的神经机制得到了最好的理解，鸣禽的发声学习需要基底神经节的一个离散区域，即x区。神经递质多巴胺在基底神经节的功能和可塑性中起着至关重要的作用，但在鸣禽的行为中尚未测量到多巴胺的释放，多巴胺在发声学习中的功能也未知。该项目的目标是确定X区突触可塑性所需的多巴胺信号的时间特征，然后询问行为鸣禽在模仿歌曲的记忆过程中或在声音控制回路的听觉反馈依赖的可塑性过程中是否出现这种多巴胺信号。由于歌曲学习涉及一个明确定义的神经回路，专门用于单一行为，这些研究可能为多巴胺和基底神经节对所有脊椎动物运动学习的作用机制提供独特的见解。了解基底神经节多巴胺的功能对人类健康的重要性被帕金森病中多巴胺丢失的破坏性影响和药物滥用引起的药理学错误激活所强调。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Motor skill learning and other goal-directed behavior involves defining a goal and practice. During practice, neural circuits evaluate sensory feedback and guide adaptive changes in motor control circuitry. An important example of such behavior is displayed by the small number of species, including humans that learn vocalizations crucial to communication. Neural mechanism of vocal learning are best understood in songbirds, where vocal learning requires a discrete region of the basal ganglia, Area X. The neurotransmitter dopamine plays a crucial role in basal ganglia function and plasticity, but dopamine release has not been measured in behaving songbirds and the function of dopamine in vocal learning in unknown. The goals of this project are to determine the temporal features of dopamine signals required for synaptic plasticity in Area X and then to ask in behaving songbirds if such dopamine signals occur during memorization of a song to mimic or during auditory-feedback dependent plasticity of vocal control circuits. Since song learning involves a well-defined neural circuit devoted to a single behavior, these studies may offer unique insights into the mechanisms by which dopamine and the basal ganglia contribute to motor learning in all vertebrates. The importance to human health of understanding the function of basal ganglia dopamine is underscored by the devastating effects of dopamine loss in Parkinson's Disease and pharmacological mis-activation by drugs of abuse.